1. Make sure you're in the check out mode by looking at the drop down menu in the upper left-hand side of the circulation screen. You can also scan the "Set Checkout Mode" barcode if you have a list of command barcodes.
2. There are several ways to pull up a patron's account. You can:
-- type the patron's ID number in the box to the right of the drop down
-- use the patron screen by clicking Command-L, then Command-F, then type in the patron's last name
-- choose a student by homeroom (see "Checking out by homeroom" below)
3. Once you have the patron's account up (you should see their name in the gray box and their picture), simply scan the barcode on the book to check out. You should hear a beep, which tells you that the checkout was successful.
1. Make sure you are in the book drop mode by looking at the drop down menu in the upper left-hand side of the circulation screen. You can also scan the "Set Bookdrop Mode" barcode if you have a list of command barcodes.
2. Scan the barcode on the book and check the screen to make sure the title shows up and is marked as available. You will also hear a light beep, which tells you that the drop was successful.
Printing patron records (for payment of damaged books, etc):
1. Make sure you have the correct student's information on the screen (see To check out a book to bring up a patron's info).
2. On the light gray strip right below the student's information, click "Details". This will open a new window with a page of information regarding the items the student currently has out and the cost to replace them.
1. Make sure you are in the renewal mode by looking at the drop down menu in the upper left-hand side of the circulation screen. You can also scan the "Set Renewal Mode" barcode if you have a list of command barcodes.
2. Scan the barcode on the book. Wait for the beep to make sure the renewal was successful.
1. Choose the hold mode by using the drop down menu in the upper left hand corner of the circulation screen. You can also access it by hitting Command-H. (You must have an active patron in order for the hold command to work.)
2. You will need to find the barcode to enter in the command box. There are two ways to do this. You can:
-- Access the items menu by going to the Show menu and choosing "Items". Hit Command-F and type in the title of the book. Once you have the record displayed, go to the "Copy Information" tab and find the barcode field. You will have to unlock the record by clicking the lock in the upper left corner. You can then copy the barcode number to paste into the circulation screen. Be sure to lock the record when you are done.
-- Open Researcher by going to the Show menu and choosing "Researcher". Pull up the record for the book on Researcher, and click the word "out" on the right side of the record. This will give you a box with information including the barcode number. You can copy and paste the number from there.
2. Hit Command-F, then type in the title of the item you'd like to remove.
3. Unlock the record by clicking the little lock icon in the upper left corner, then click on the "Copy Information" tab.
4. You should see a "Change Status" field near the bottom of that screen. Click the drop down and choose the status you'd like to change to (usually "Lost" or "Discarded".)
Checking out a book:
1. Make sure you're in the check out mode by looking at the drop down menu in the upper left-hand side of the circulation screen. You can also scan the "Set Checkout Mode" barcode if you have a list of command barcodes.
2. There are several ways to pull up a patron's account. You can:
-- type the patron's ID number in the box to the right of the drop down
-- use the patron screen by clicking Command-L, then Command-F, then type in the patron's last name
-- choose a student by homeroom (see "Checking out by homeroom" below)
3. Once you have the patron's account up (you should see their name in the gray box and their picture), simply scan the barcode on the book to check out. You should hear a beep, which tells you that the checkout was successful.
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Checking out by homeroom:
When you open Alex, the default screen is the transaction log. You can change that to show a list of homerooms, and students within each homeroom.
1. Look for the line of tabs (about halfway down the screen) that says "Transaction Log", "Renewals", and "Homeroom".
2. Click on Homeroom to get a list of all room numbers in the building.
3. Choose the homeroom you'd like to check out to and you will see a list of students on the right side.
4. Just double click on a student name to bring up their record and check out a book to them.
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Checking books in
1. Make sure you are in the book drop mode by looking at the drop down menu in the upper left-hand side of the circulation screen. You can also scan the "Set Bookdrop Mode" barcode if you have a list of command barcodes.
2. Scan the barcode on the book and check the screen to make sure the title shows up and is marked as available. You will also hear a light beep, which tells you that the drop was successful.
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Printing patron records (for payment of damaged books, etc):
1. Make sure you have the correct student's information on the screen (see To check out a book to bring up a patron's info).
2. On the light gray strip right below the student's information, click "Details". This will open a new window with a page of information regarding the items the student currently has out and the cost to replace them.
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Generating a loaned items list:
1. Go to the Tools menu and click "Reports".
2. On the left side click "Circulation". You should see a long alphabetical list of reports on the right side.
3. Click "Loaned Items - 1 line".
4. Go to the Select By drop down menu at the bottom of the screen and choose "Patron Homeroom". This will give you two boxes to the right.
5. Type the homeroom number you'd like to generate the report for.
6. Click print.
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Generating a list of class barcodes:
1. Go to the Tools menu and select "Reports".
1. On the left side choose the patron tab - you should get a list of reports on the right.
3. Choose the report titled "Patron Desk Reference".
4. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a drop down box labeled "Select by" -- choose homeroom.
5. Enter the homeroom number in both boxes.
6. Click print.
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Generating a list of staff barcodes:
1. Go to the Tools menu and select "Reports".
2. On the left side choose the patron tab - you should get a list of reports on the right.
3. Choose the report titled "Patron Desk Reference".
4. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a drop down box labeled "Select by" -- choose policy.
5. Choose "Faculty" from the drop down menu to the right.
6. Click print.
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Printing a list of lost books:
1. Go to the Tools menu and select "Reports".
2. Choose "Circulation" on the left side. You should see a long alphabetical list of reports on the right side.
3. Click "Lost Copies".
4. Click print.
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Renewing a book:
1. Make sure you are in the renewal mode by looking at the drop down menu in the upper left-hand side of the circulation screen. You can also scan the "Set Renewal Mode" barcode if you have a list of command barcodes.
2. Scan the barcode on the book. Wait for the beep to make sure the renewal was successful.
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Placing a book on hold:
1. Choose the hold mode by using the drop down menu in the upper left hand corner of the circulation screen. You can also access it by hitting Command-H. (You must have an active patron in order for the hold command to work.)
2. You will need to find the barcode to enter in the command box. There are two ways to do this. You can:
-- Access the items menu by going to the Show menu and choosing "Items". Hit Command-F and type in the title of the book. Once you have the record displayed, go to the "Copy Information" tab and find the barcode field. You will have to unlock the record by clicking the lock in the upper left corner. You can then copy the barcode number to paste into the circulation screen. Be sure to lock the record when you are done.
-- Open Researcher by going to the Show menu and choosing "Researcher". Pull up the record for the book on Researcher, and click the word "out" on the right side of the record. This will give you a box with information including the barcode number. You can copy and paste the number from there.
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Deleting Items:
1. Go to the Show menu and choose "Items".
2. Hit Command-F, then type in the title of the item you'd like to remove.
3. Unlock the record by clicking the little lock icon in the upper left corner, then click on the "Copy Information" tab.
4. You should see a "Change Status" field near the bottom of that screen. Click the drop down and choose the status you'd like to change to (usually "Lost" or "Discarded".)
5. Lock the record.
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